WHEELING, W. Va. – A go-ahead layup by Preston Boswell of Wheeling Jesuit with 17 seconds left gave the Cardinals the last lead change of the game as the Concord University men's basketball team fell 83-80 in Mountain East Conference play at the McDonough Center Saturday afternoon.
In a game that featured 13 lead changes and 14 ties, both teams took jabs at each over the final two minutes of play.
Senior guard
Aaron Miller canned a three-pointer out of a timeout for CU (5-10, 1-8 MEC) with 1:55 left to put Concord up 78-76. Wheeling Jesuit, the sixth-ranked team in the nation, (14-1, 8-1 MEC) answered with two free throws 19 seconds later to tie the contest.
WJU's Pat Moseh added an additional foul shot with 52 seconds remaining to put the Cardinals up 79-78. However, sophomore guard
Tommy Bolte converted a highly-contested floater in the lane with 27 seconds remaining to put Wheeling Jesuit on the ropes.
Just 10 seconds later, Boswell answered Bolte's bucket with a layup of his own to give Wheeling Jesuit a 81-80 edge. On CU's ensuing possession, Bolte had his three-pointer blocked by the Cardinals' Haywood Highsmith with four seconds left. WJU converted two more foul shots, and then chose to foul up three points with three seconds remaining. Concord could not knock either foul shot as its upset bid fell short.
In the first half, WJU took a 24-15 advantage with 10:34 remaining, but the Mountain Lions outscored Wheeling Jesuit 23-14 over the final 10 minutes of the half to knot the game at 38-38 heading into the intermission.
During the second half, neither team led by more than six points. Over the final five minutes of the game, the largest lead for either team was three points.
All five Concord starters finished in double figures as senior guard
Michael Sanchez led the way with 18 points. Freshman forward
Patrick Eugene notched a career-high 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting. Miller and senior forward
Stephen Thompson also had 12 each while senior guard
Cam Shannon added 11 points.
The Mountain Lions shot an even 50 percent (32-for-64) from the field, the first game shooting at least 50 percent since West Virginia Wesleyan on December 3.
CU will face another ranked opponent, fourth-rated West Liberty, 6:30 p.m. Monday.
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